Page 16 of Say You Remember Me
There was probably some case study out there about trust-fund kids like me who were numbing their loneliness with sex and extravagant trips. Heck, maybe there was one on me already.
“It’s not all bad,” I said with a half-smile, trying to ease the tension. “But you’re right.” I cleared my throat, shifting in my chair as I decided to be a bit more honest. “All the attention and constant scrutiny does make genuine connections complicated.”
Maddie’s eyes met mine, a flicker of understanding passing between us.
And for a moment, it seemed like she was about to say something more, to possibly share something real about herself. But before she could, Saylee returned with our drinks, breaking the spell.
“Here you are,” Saylee said, placing a glass of water in front of Maddie and a tumbler of sparkling water in front of me. “Your food should be out shortly.”
“Thank you,” we both said at the same time.
Saylee left again, and the comfortable silence between us resumed. I leaned back in my chair, studying her as she sipped her water.
“So,” I said, shifting the conversation toward safer ground, “I know I invited you here to talk about the business summit—and I promise we’ll get to that—but since you’ve apparently learned everything there is to know about me from your internet research…” I winked playfully. “I think it’s only right that I get to know a little more about you.”
“You want to get to know me?” She blinked, sounding genuinely surprised that I’d be interested in her story.
“We’ll be working pretty closely, so I think it’s a good idea to become better acquainted.” I shrugged, keeping it light. “You’re about to get a front-row seat to all the details of my life—the good, the bad, and the ugly—so it’s only fair.”
“That makes sense.” She nodded.
I smirked, unable to resist adding, “Plus, it will help me with my new goal of actually getting to know a woman before inviting her out of town.”
Her eyes widened, briefly shocked by what I’d said. But being quick with a comeback, she got a smirk on her lips and teased me right back by saying, “Are you trying to convince the ladies at that table over there that you’ve turned over a new leaf?”
“Partly.” I chuckled, liking that even though we barely knew each other, there was an easy energy between us. “But mostly, I’m trying to prove it to myself.”
“It is good to have our own backs, I suppose.”
“It is,” I said, thinking that as a single mom who had just moved away from her hometown with her son, she probably had to have her back more than I could guess. “So, when you’re not at the office helping with my every demand, or making McDonald’s runs with your son, what do you do for fun?”
“Honestly? Not much.” Maddie laughed softly, the warmth in her voice genuine. “Between work and being a mom, there’s not a lot of time for myself.”
“I guess I can understand that,” I said, thinking of the stories my mom had shared with me about being a single mom for that year before my stepdad came into the picture.
“But when I do manage to steal a few moments,” Maddie continued, “I like to read. And bake. Cupcakes, mostly.”
“Cupcakes, huh?” I grinned. “What’s your specialty?”
“Pumpkin chocolate chip,” she said, her eyes lighting up. “With cream cheese frosting.”
“Are you a ‘fall girlie’ then?” I asked, familiar with the small corner of the internet where women shared their love of everything pumpkin spice.
“I’d like to say that I enjoy every season,” she said, biting her lip. “But…I may go just a little overboard with the autumnal vibes once September hits.”
“Those ‘ber’ months are pretty great,” I said, having a fondness for that time of year myself.
“Are you sure you’re not a fall enthusiast?” Maddie raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Because only a fall enthusiast would use such a term.”
I chuckled. “So maybe I have a secret fall Instagram account of my own.”
“Wait, seriously?” She furrowed her brow.
“No.” I laughed. “If I did, you would know about it since you would be the one managing it for me.”
She chuckled. “I guess that sounds about right.”
“Anyway, you’ll have to bring some of your pumpkin cupcakes to the office one day,” I said. “We can have a special Autumn Equinox party or something.”
